Spurs win Game 3 – one game from sweep

The Spurs took over in the second quarter and withstood a late push from Phoenix to beat the Suns 102-92 and take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 33 points, including 10 points in the last five minutes of the game. Duncan hit 15 of 15 from the free-throw line.

The Suns put together an 11-0 run capped by an Amare Stoudemire basket to cut the lead to nine points with 8:14 left in the game.

The Suns continued to keep it close throught the middle of the fourth quarter. Stoudemire made another bucket with 5:16 left in the game to cut it to eight points and 90-82.

Duncan dominated the next few possessions at both ends. He made two free throws to boost the lead back to 10 points, then blocked a Stoudemire shot. The Suns’ next possession came up empty when Steve Nash got stuck in the lane and was called for traveling.

Duncan followed than with a dunk that gave him 27 points for the game and put the Spurs up 94-82.

Stoudemire and Nash carried the Suns down the stretch. They closed to within six points with less than a minute left in the game.

SPURS TAKE BIG LEAD INTO FOURTH QUARTER

The Spurs continued to fend off the Suns early in the second half. The Spurs held on to their 17-point lead and took an 80-63 advantage into the fourth quarter. Brent Barry hit hit third 3-pointer of the game to start the fourth quarter as the Spurs went up by 20.

The Spurs outrebounded the Suns 13-7 in the third quarter. The Suns continued to shoot right at 40 percent through three quarters.

Tim Duncan had 23 points and 15 rebounds through three quarters. Tony Parker had 15 points and Nazr Mohammed had 10. Barry and Robert Horry combined for 15 points off the bench.